# Developing a tool to calculate PPE needs for CHWs during the COVID-19 response **URL:** \ **Category:** COVID-19\ **Created:** [March 27, 2020, 3:31pm UTC](https://forum.communityhealthtoolkit.org/t/developing-a-tool-to-calculate-ppe-needs-for-chws-during-the-covid-19-response/645 "2020-03-27T15:31:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![helenelizabeth](https://communityhealthtoolkit.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.communityhealthtoolkit.org/helenelizabeth/32/125_2.png) [@helenelizabeth](https://forum.communityhealthtoolkit.org/u/helenelizabeth)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 3:31pm UTC](https://forum.communityhealthtoolkit.org/t/developing-a-tool-to-calculate-ppe-needs-for-chws-during-the-covid-19-response/645/1 "2020-03-27T15:31:24Z")
> **With the support of developers from around the world during the COVID-19 Global Hackathon, we developed a new [PPE for CHWs Calculator tool](https://ppe-medic-mobile.netlify.com/) to help NGOs, governments, and other partners calculate and plan for PPE needs for CHWs in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak** **Problem** : There is an urgent need to plan for and distribute PPE to all health workers, especially frontline community health workers, especially in countries with the weakest health systems. We need the best possible projections of supply needs for CHWs to best serve their communities while also protecting themselves. **Challenge** : Build a model that uses available data and PPE use protocol to project needs at the NGO catchment area using number of households and number of CHWs as key inputs. If there’s time, make it adaptable based on changing assumptions and resource availability. We used [Partners In Health](https://donate.pih.org/page/contribute/protect-heroes-stopcovid?utm_medium=email&utm_source=pih&utm_content=3+-+One+set+costs+around+10+so+start+a+gift+&utm_campaign=20200325_EM100_glb_em_StopCOVID_fnd_doc40_donation_2_B_cg&source=20200325_EM100_glb_em_StopCOVID_fnd_doc40_donation_2_B_cg) model estimating that one set of Personal Protective Equipment (mask, shield, gloves, gown) costs about $10. > **The preliminary version of this tool is [here](https://ppe-medic-mobile.netlify.com/) and we welcome feedback, suggestions, and next steps from our community!** Follow this link to learn more about the [COVID-19 Global Hackathon](https://covid-global-hackathon.devpost.com/). The source code for this tool is [publicly available](https://github.com/josiahbryan/ppe-medic-mobile/blob/master/client/src/components/PpeCalc.jsx#L47), thanks to the support of our main developer, [Josiah Bryan](http://josiahbryan.com). ---
**Author:** ![helenelizabeth](https://communityhealthtoolkit.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.communityhealthtoolkit.org/helenelizabeth/32/125_2.png) [@helenelizabeth](https://forum.communityhealthtoolkit.org/u/helenelizabeth)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2020, 5:13am UTC](https://forum.communityhealthtoolkit.org/t/developing-a-tool-to-calculate-ppe-needs-for-chws-during-the-covid-19-response/645/2 "2020-05-05T05:13:05Z")
We are excited to see the work that @Carey_Westgate and others at CHIC / CHAP are doing to expand on the logic used in this early MVP for calculating PPE needs for CHWs! ---
**Author:** ![Carey\_Westgate](https://communityhealthtoolkit.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.communityhealthtoolkit.org/carey_westgate/32/461_2.png) [@Carey\_Westgate](https://forum.communityhealthtoolkit.org/u/Carey_Westgate)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2020, 1:50pm UTC](https://forum.communityhealthtoolkit.org/t/developing-a-tool-to-calculate-ppe-needs-for-chws-during-the-covid-19-response/645/3 "2020-05-05T13:50:05Z")
Thanks, @helenelizabeth. We are making progress and hope to share some preliminary figures by Friday. Right now, we are validating country-specific assumptions around CHW activities (type, frequency, etc.). So grateful to have amazing thought partners at Medic Mobile!! ---
**Author:** ![helenelizabeth](https://communityhealthtoolkit.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.communityhealthtoolkit.org/helenelizabeth/32/125_2.png) [@helenelizabeth](https://forum.communityhealthtoolkit.org/u/helenelizabeth)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 3:54pm UTC](https://forum.communityhealthtoolkit.org/t/developing-a-tool-to-calculate-ppe-needs-for-chws-during-the-covid-19-response/645/4 "2020-05-14T15:54:09Z")
Thanks so much, @Carey_Westgate for this update! Looking forward to sharing progress on this work here 🙂